Novel Treatment Methodologies Using Light Therapy

Abstract

An exemplary method of treatment involves the non-invasive delivery of near infrared light (NIR) in 600-1200 nm wavelengths at surface wattage of 10.01-20.00 watts applied using a continuous motion technique. Treatment duration can be 30-1800 seconds, and can be conducted using a specific pulsed NIR technique for minimizing surface tissue heating. This is a novel process of non-invasive NIR/laser therapy. Prior applications used low levels of NIR therapy—most less than 1 watt with some up to 5 watts. Embodiments of the methodologies can be practiced with a laser unit having control for wavelength and for 1-20 watts. A Pulsed (on/off laser beam) control for 1-1000 milliseconds may also be utilized. An applicator with 1-2 cm aperture can be used to produce approximately 0.64-1.95 Joules per cm2 fluence in the depth of tissue. A display detailing watts, time, continuous or pulsing, and Joules of therapy is useful.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of novel treatment using light therapy to treat at least one of a set of conditions including Traumatic Brain Injury, Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Senility, Dementia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety, the method comprising:
 readying a patient for treatment by ensuring patient has at least one of the set of conditions and has no allergy to infrared light;   preparation and positioning the patient by ensuring that an area to be treated has no lotions and no oils present, that any hair present is cut short, and that the area to be treated is made fully accessible;   enhancing safety by ensuring that patient and operator wear safety gear;   configuring a system by setting a laser control and interface unit to appropriate specifications for a given condition and patient, which includes specifying a plurality of wavelengths between 600 and 1200 nanometers, specifying a plurality of wattages between 10.01 and 20.00 watts, and specifying whether a laser will pulse and details of any pulses;   activating applicator by turning on a flow of laser light and applying an applicator having a width to within a proximity of the patient's skin from zero to ten millimeters; and   maintaining proximity and applying active circular motion techniques by maintaining the proximity while actively moving the applicator across the skin.   
     
     
         2 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the active circular motion techniques involve moving the applicator in a small circle having a diameter between one and two centimeters.   
     
     
         3 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying in active sweeping pattern by continuing the active circular motion techniques while actively moving the applicator linearly in one of an across, up and down direction through the treatment area, followed by offsetting with an overlap and sweeping back an opposite direction in order to minimize heat build-up; and   continuing the active sweeping pattern until the entire treatment area has been traversed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 applying in active sweeping pattern by continuing the active circular motion techniques while actively moving the applicator linearly in one of an across, up and down direction through the treatment area, followed by offsetting with an overlap and sweeping back an opposite direction in order to minimize heat build-up; and   continuing the active sweeping pattern until the entire treatment area has been traversed.   
     
     
         5 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         6 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         8 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         9 . A method of novel treatment using light therapy to treat at least one of a set of conditions including Multiple sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injuries, Mild-to-Moderate Stroke, Neuropathy/Polyneuropathy, Radiculopathy/Radiculitis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, the method comprising:
 readying a patient for treatment by ensuring patient has at least one of the set of conditions and has no allergy to infrared light;   preparation and positioning the patient by ensuring that an area to be treated has no lotions and no oils present, that any hair present is cut short, and that the area to be treated is made fully accessible;   enhancing safety by ensuring that patient and operator wear safety gear;   configuring a system by setting a laser control and interface unit to appropriate specifications for a given condition and patient, which includes specifying a plurality of wavelengths between 600 and 1200 nanometers, specifying a plurality of wattages between 10.01 and 20.00 watts, and specifying whether a laser will pulse and details of any pulses;   activating applicator by turning on a flow of laser light and applying an applicator having a width to within a proximity of the patient's skin from zero to ten millimeters; and   maintaining proximity and applying active circular motion techniques by maintaining the proximity while actively moving the applicator across the skin.   
     
     
         10 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 wherein the active circular motion techniques involve moving the applicator in a small circle having a diameter between one and two centimeters.   
     
     
         11 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 applying in active sweeping pattern by continuing the active circular motion techniques while actively moving the applicator linearly in one of an across, up and down direction through the treatment area, followed by offsetting with an overlap and sweeping back an opposite direction in order to minimize heat build-up; and   continuing the active sweeping pattern until the entire treatment area has been traversed.   
     
     
         12 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 applying in active sweeping pattern by continuing the active circular motion techniques while actively moving the applicator linearly in one of an across, up and down direction through the treatment area, followed by offsetting with an overlap and sweeping back an opposite direction in order to minimize heat build-up; and   continuing the active sweeping pattern until the entire treatment area has been traversed.   
     
     
         13 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of novel treatment using light therapy of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature by sampling a temperature of the patient's skin in the area to be treated throughout a duration of treatment.